Page 56 - Green Builder Magazine January 2016 Digital Edition

CODE WATCH

The Latest Rules, Regulations and Codes Impacting Sustainable Construction

N.C. Puts the Brakes On Renewables

North Carolina considers a bill that lowers the cap for renewable energy sourcing.

IBY LAUREEN BLISSARD
N A VERY SHADY MOVE, North Carolina State Senate Finance
Chairman Sen. Bob Rucho spearheaded the initial passage of
a bill (HB 332) that would freeze renewable energy rates. In
doing so, he cut off discussion, refused to allow a head count
and declared it passed by voice vote despite a “louder and
possibly more numerous chorus of ‘No’ votes.” Members of Rucho’s
own party even complained about the way the vote was handled.
His colleagues on the other side of the aisle were extremely upset,
and understandably so.

Rep. Mike Hager inserted the provision in an unrelated bill, and
the Senate Finance Committee approved that maneuver. There was
a request for a division of the vote, which would have provided for
an individual vote tally. However, it appears Sen. Rucho chose to
ignore Senate rules adopted earlier this year and proceeded with
a voice vote. However, after that first passage, it was sent from the
Senate Commerce Committee to the Senate Committee on Finance,
where it is currently parked.

HB 332 would cap a renewable energy sourcing requirement on
the utilities at 6 percent, instead of increasing it to 10 percent by
2018 and 12.5 percent by 2021. It would also reduce the guaranteed
market for renewables by requiring utilities pay a standard rate for
power from much smaller plants.

CODE INFORMATION Back Room Decision? SB 332, which would cap renewable energy
In mid-July, HB 255 was passed by the legislature and signed into sourcing requirement for utilities, was pushed through the North
law by the governor. The bill creates a new, 17-member building Carolina State Senate without a discussion.
code council, complete with a 17-member residential committee
and a 9-member building code committee (see sidebar on page 55). official’s workload. The following provision transitions the inspection
Appointed by the governor, the committees will review proposals (and subsequent liability of compliance) from the building official
for codes, including the North Carolina Energy Code. to either a licensed architect or engineer:

The residential codes can only be revised “every six years, to “… a city shall accept and approve, without further responsibility
become effective the first day of January/February of the following to inspect, a design or other proposal for a component or element
year, with at least six months between adoption and effective date. in the construction of buildings from a licensed architect or licensed
The first six-year revision under this subsection shall be adopted engineer provided all of the following apply:
to become effective January/February 1, 2019, and every six years
thereafter.” As written, the state will adopt some form of the 2018 ■■ (1) The submission is completed under valid seal of the licensed
I-codes, skip the 2021 I-codes and then consider the 2024 I-codes. architect or licensed engineer.

Finally, this bill reduces funding to the building codes department ■■ (2) Field inspection of the installation or completion of
by raising the monetary limit needed to require a permit. The construction component or element of the building is performed
construction or alteration cost threshold used to be $5,000; it is
now $15,000. However, this bill also (potentially) reduces the building

54 GREEN BUILDER January/February 2016 www.greenbuildermedia.com